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Wednesday, November 05, 2008

Night time the right time for LSU-Alabama

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - For the most part, LSU has escaped this need to play every big home game at night. The victory over Georgia in 2003 did much to get the Tiger Nation over that crutch. The Tigers also beat Arkansas that season, 55-24, at home in the afternoon on CBS.

In 2005, LSU defeated No. 11 Florida 21-17 in the CBS afternoon game n Tiger Stadium as wiell as Arkansas 19-17 in the afternoon on CBS at home. And in 2007, the No. 2 Tigers defeated No. 12 South Carolina 28-16 in the 2:30 CBS time slot in Tiger Stadium.

But this Saturday with No. 1 Alabama (9-0, 5-0 Southeastern Conference) coming into town and No. 15 LSU (6-2, 3-2 SEC) and its fan base not feeling so confident, a night game would be just what the psychologist ordered. Instead, the game will be at 2:30 p.m.

This one game where LSU needs every working intangible - the live Tiger mascot, the band, the fans and the night time. The Tigers actually have more talent than Alabama, but they just have not got it together yet.

LSU will also need some serious breaks to win this game - like an interception return for a touchdown for its team. Tiger Stadium would explode if that happens with excitement and with irony.

How Alabama would react to such pressure would be something LSU would love to see. Alabama has trailed for exactly 75 seconds all season. Ole Miss led 3-0 early in the game, but that was it. LSU, meanwhile, trailed 20-0 and 21-7 early in losses at Florida and at home to Georgia.

The kickoff decision for this game was just made a week or so ago. LSU should have just said no. It would have given the Tigers that little edge they probably will need.